Korpisalo and the Senators will look to rebound after a terrible performance on Monday when he allowed five goals on 38 shots (.868 SV%) in a 5-0 loss to the Florida Panthers. Korpisalo has more consistently been the better option between the pipes for the Senators this season, but the team has struggled as a whole lately, losing two straight, being outscored 10-3, paralleled by Korpisalo's mediocre 3.34 GAA and .902 SV% through 12 games (5-5-0). That said, the Senators are -157 road favourites against Korpisalo's former team, the Columbus Blue Jackets, who have lost two of their last three outings (1-2-0).
Boston Bruins News
Kastelic has missed the Senators' previous eight games due to a high-ankle sprain and was placed on the Long-Term Injured Reserve retroactive to November 3rd, Thursday. The 24-year-old bruising centre had failed to collect a point through nine games this season, but had 21 PIMs and a -2 plus/minus prior to his injury.
Oesterle played four games with the Flames earlier this season, going without a point, but has spent most of his time in the AHL with the Calgary Wrangler where he has eight points (0G / 8A) in 12 games. During his brief stint with the Flames, he played almost exclusively with either Dennis Gilbert or Nikita Zadorov.
Jim Montgomery and the Bruins coaching staff have favoured Swayman over Linus Ullmark in recent weeks and will continue that trend on Thursday as Swayman will start for the fifth time in the last seven games. Swayman has been the more consistent of the two goalies this season but has struggled lately, as has the entire team, failing to record a victory in three straight games (0-1-1), posting a subpar .882 SV% in the process. The Bruins will look for only their second win in six games (1-3-1) against a low-scoring San Jose Sharks team (1.64 GF / GP) that has played significantly better lately, winning three of their last six (3-2-1).
Lettieri has been recalled from the Iowa Wild of the AHL as a lineup replacement for Ryan Hartman, who is serving a two-game suspension. Lettieri has already spent time in the NHL this season, scoring two points (2G / 0A) in 11 games, most recently playing on November 18th. During his stint with Minnesota, he most commonly played on a line with Connor Dewar and Brandom Duhaime.
Swayman will be back between the pipes for the Bruins on Monday after Linus Ullmark took the loss in Saturday's 7-4 defeat to the Rangers. Swayman's last appearance was a 5-2 loss to the Red Wings on Friday, when he surrendered four goals on just 28 shots. It was an uncharacteristically poor start from Swayman, but he still owns a sparkling stat line on the season with a .926 SV% and a 2.28 GAA to go along with his 7-1-2 record. He draws an excellent matchup on Monday with Boston being -250 favourites to secure the victory over the Blue Jackets.
Korpisalo was a game-time decision after returning to practice on Sunday. He did not dress for Saturday's game against the Wild due to an undisclosed injury. The 29-year-old netminder was in particularly strong form prior to the injury, registering a 4-2-0 record and a .921 SV% over his last eight appearances. He returns to face a challenging matchup against the Panthers on Monday with the Sens being slight underdogs at +105.
Mitchell will be a healthy scratch on Monday, allowing Kevin Shattenkirk, who has not played since November 22nd, to draw back into the lineup. Mitchell has played 10 games with the Bruins this season, tallying two points (0G / 2A), 10 shots, and 10 blocks while averaging 15:02 time-on-ice.
Korpisalo participated in the Sentaors' morning skate on Monday and could be an option in the crease against the Florida Panthers. Korpisalo has not dressed since November 18th, but the team will hope he can regain his pre-injury form when he posted a 4-2-0 record and a .921 SV% in his last eight appearances.
Tufte appeared in two games in his latest call-up to the Avalanche and had a goal and an assist but has been reassigned to the Colorado Eagles (AHL) Saturday. The 25-year-old returns to the minors, where he was dominant prior to his promotion with nine goals, eight assists, six PIMs and a +4 plus/minus in 12 games played.
Lohrei played very well in his first taste of the NHL, recording four points (1G / 3A), 17 SOG and a minus-3 rating in 10 games. He gets sent to the AHL along with Patrick Brown in order to make room for Matt Grzelcyk to be activated from LTIR ahead of Saturday's game.
Brown suited up in the last two games for the Bruins, picking up one assist in 8:13 ATOI. Brown and Mason Lohrei were sent back to the AHL to make room for Matt Grzelcyk to be activated from LTIR.
Lettieri had two goals, 14 SOG, four PIMs, and a -4 plus/minus in 11 games in 2023-24 but has been placed on waivers Thursday and assigned to Iowa (AHL) Friday. The 28-year-old forward will = return to Iowa, where he has a goal and three points through four games this season prior to his call-up.
Swayman will start Friday afternoon, the front end of a back-to-back for the Bruins. Swayman has struggled his last three games (1-0-2), posting a .895 SV% and allowing 10 goals in the process. That said, the Bruins are -186 home favourites despite losing to the Detroit Red Wings 5-4 on November 4th with Linus Ullmark between the pipes.
Korpisalo appears to still be nursing an undisclosed injury that kept him from dressing in the second game of the NHL Global Series in Sweden on November 18th. The Senators have recalled Mads Sogaard to serve as the backup to Anton Forsberg in the interim. The Senators will hope Korpisalo can return soon as he was finally starting to find his footing this season, posting a 4-2-0 record and a .921 SV% in his last eight appearances.
Lettieri had two goals, 14 SOG, four PIMs, and a -4 plus/minus in 11 games in 2023-24 but has been placed on waivers Thursday. The 28-year-old forward will likely return to Iowa (AHL) if unclaimed, where he has a goal and three points through four games this season prior to his call-up.